“Whatever makes you happy, sweetheart. All I want is to see you happy. I know it hasn’t been easy for you all these years, living without Dustin, and I can’t tell you how pleased I am to see you reunited.”
I hugged him hard, so grateful I had the support of my family as I took this next step. “I’m going to miss working for you.”
“Your mother and I have been talking about that.”
“Really?”
“Now that you and your brother have decided this is where you would like to put down roots, and with my brother and niece and nephews in the city, we’d like to spend more time here. But we don’t want you to think we’re invading your privacy. We know you and Dustin will be newlyweds, and we don’t want to intrude.”
I had been hoping they would move here too, but I hadn’t wanted to push them. I gripped his hands. “I would love nothing more than to have you guys here. I’m so happy to see you and the Matthewses getting along so well again.”
He smiled. “They were very good friends for a long time. I won’t deny it was awkward between us when you and Dustin broke up, which is probably why neither of us used our houses often. But now that we’re officially family, I’m looking forward to many good years with them.” He winked. “Spoiling our grandchildren rotten.”
“I love you, Dad,” I whispered, hugging him.
“I love you too, my baby. More than you can imagine.”
The wedding planner knocked on the door and poked her head in. “I’m so sorry to interrupt, but I was wondering whether it’s okay to cue the music. Dustin’s looking a little nervous out there.”
“We’re ready.” I took a deep breath, hooking my arm through my father’s.
We made our way through the house to where the wedding party was waiting to make their procession to the beach. The wedding planner had done an amazing job. The white deck was covered with white blooms and turquoise ribbons to match the bridal party’s turquoise-and-silver dresses. A turquoise runner led down the stairs to the beach, ending in a sheer fabric and floral-covered arch. Under that, Dustin stood with the wedding party and officiant.
The guests’ chairs were covered in white with a turquoise ribbon, my favorite color, and the sight against the cloudless blue sky and gentle waves took my breath away.
I’d opted for a simple white silk strapless dress that trailed slightly behind me while Dustin had chosen white designer suits with light blue shirts for himself and his guys. I’d never seen him look more handsome or happier as I made my way down the aisle on my father’s arm.
Mr. Andrews, the non-denominational officiant we’d selected to perform the service, smiled as my father shook Dustin’s hand and hugged me before taking his place by my mother’s side. It took everything in me not to kiss Dustin, or at the very least tell him I loved him, and I could tell by the mischievous glint in his eye that he was waiting for that moment too. We held hands as Mr. Andrews opened the ceremony, welcoming our friends and family, before saying a few words about our journey and how happy we were to share this moment with the people we loved most.
He prompted Dustin to share the vows he’d written for me. I held my breath and waited to hear the love of my life speak from his heart about how much I meant to him.
“Kara…” Dustin smiled, squeezing my hands. “They say timing is everything. Well, it seems our time has finally come. Had we married years ago, as planned, I don’t think I would have fully appreciated how lucky I am to be sharing this life with you. Years without you taught me I never want to spend another day without you.”
He reached out to catch the tear slipping down my cheek as I bit my lip, hoping to prevent a flood of tears.
“Life isn’t easy. It’s filled with challenges. There will be arguments and tears, maybe even days when we think about walking away, but we won’t because we’ve been together and we’ve been apart, and my worst day with you is a thousand times better than my best day without you.”
Cue the waterworks. There was no holding them back now. I sniffled, giggling when he shook his head with a wry smile. I’d told him I wouldn’t cry, but he had wanted to bet otherwise. I wouldn’t take his bet though. I’d known it was one I couldn’t win.
“Kara,” Mr. Andrews said, gesturing toward Dustin.
I only hoped I could get through this without being reduced to a sobbing, hysterical mess. I cleared my throat and took a deep breath, squeezing Dustin’s hands for support. “I never imagined my childhood crush would one day become my husband.”
He smiled, reminding me of the days when I used to follow him around wishing he would notice me. I was too young then, thirteen to his seventeen. He’d said I was just a kid, but a few years later, everything had changed with a kiss.
“We grew up together, right here on this beach. I never wanted the summers to end because I knew when they did, I would have to leave you, and every time I did, it tore another little piece of my heart out. Finally I had to admit I couldn’t imagine my life without you.”
Talking about the years we’d been apart wasn’t easy for me, especially since I still blamed myself, but I knew we couldn’t celebrate this day without acknowledging our past, both the good and bad.
“Standing here, watching you walk away”—my eyes drifted to the path he’d taken when I feared it may be the last time I’d lay eyes on him—“was the low-point of my life. People kept telling me it would get easier, but it didn’t. It got harder. Every year without you was harder than the last.”
He rubbed the large diamond on my finger, reminding me it would soon be joined by another ring that would unite us forever.
“When I saw you again, right here, in the place where we fell in love, I had to face the reality that whether you wanted it or not, my heart would always belong to you.” He kissed my hands when my voice trembled. “Today feels like a new beginning for us, an opportunity to start fresh. While we’ll honor the best parts of our past and hold on to the good memories that helped shape us, we can let go of the rest.”
The wind kicked up at that moment, almost as though Mother Nature was doing her part to sweep away the bad moments. Mr. Andrews asked if anyone objected to our union before asking us to exchange rings. I slipped the plain platinum band on Dustin’s hand, knowing I would never have to see his hand without it again. When we’d selected it, he said he didn’t mind if it was a little tight because he never intended to take it off, and I knew my husband was a man of his word.
Mr. Andrews pronounced us husband and wife and invited Dustin to kiss me. As we did, our friends and family cheered. When we faced the fifty people who’d gathered to help us celebrate, I heard our officiant’s voice present us as Mr. and Mrs. Dustin Matthews.
Dustin winked at me before leaning in to whisper, “Mrs. Matthews. I love the way that sounds.”
“Not half as much as I do.” I stole one more kiss before we were rushed by our families.
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Other Books by Cheryl Douglas
Now Available - Nashville Nights
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Reckless
Relentless
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High Stakes
Trade Off
Game On
Burn Out
Fast Track
Time Out
Face Value
Blown Away
Breathless
Imagine
Starting Over (Single Title)
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Envious
Forbidden
Haunted
Jaded
Hero Worship
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Strike Out
End Zone
First Down
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Fast Break (Holiday Novella)
Wild Card
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